Chairman's Update - July

Jul 07, 2017 | By Tigers

Dear Members,

You will be aware that the Wests Tigers have had a disappointing season so far. The loss of Robbie Farah last year, then the sacking of Jason Taylor early in the season were highly controversial and invited deserved criticism. Our three talented local junior players, around who we had high hopes for the future, turned their backs on the club, with Mitchell Moses departing immediately for Parramatta, James Tedesco for the Roosters and Aaron Woods for Canterbury next year. No wonder the media were critical!

Since the arrival of Ivan Cleary, however, there is a new optimism. Ivan gives everyone a sense of wise football experience, strong personal qualities and a sense of purpose. All members of Balmain Tigers will get behind him and the players as they endeavour to build and become truly competitive in the seasons ahead.

The Balmain Tigers Junior League Board and all of the clubs in our district that these Board members represent are congratulated on its ongoing achievements in developing talented young players. There are six Balmain Junior District players in the Wests Tigers full time NRL squad, a further six in the Holden Cup squad and another three who were recently called up from the 2017 Balmain Tigers SG Ball squad, including NSW Under 18s representative Alex Seyfarth. This is a great credit to the junior pathway we have established and the fantastic efforts of our coaching staff from development squads through to the junior representative system. To further emphasise this point, there are three players in the NSW State of Origin squad who are products of Balmain Junior League clubs. We are an extremely proud club with a long history of producing elite players – long may this continue.

Our board is optimistic that a resolution of the decade long saga involving our club site at Rozelle will be achieved before years end. It has been a struggle but the Board and our staff have remained determined and dedicated throughout. New caterers at Tigers Five Dock and Tigers Sydney Markets have become very popular with our members. Our club membership has also surged this year, with close to 1,200 new Tigers members in 2017.

Kangaroo legend Paul Sironen and his committee are organising a very special event for all our members and supporters. It will celebrate the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and many of our former players who have played in previous World Cups will be in attendance. Gareth Ellis, former Wests Tigers and England player, will attend with his touring party of UK supporters. It will be a memorable event held at Doltone House (opposite The Star) on Monday 30th October. Details of this great celebration of past and present World Cups, and our part in them, can be found here and tickets will be on sale imminently. I hope to see many of our loyal members there on the night.

1 Comments

Dorothy Kelso wrote:17 July 2017 at 8:00 pm

When are we the members going to have a meeting and discussion on all the things that have happened this year. We are loyal members but our point of view or suggestions are never asked for and I feel most members are feed up and need to have a say. Thank you